U.S. Tries to Calm India, Pakistan

Published 8:00 pm, Thursday, January 10, 2002

The Bush administration tried Friday to divert India and Pakistan from war preparations and toward a diplomatic solution to their disputes over Kashmir and an attack on India's parliament.

Secretary of State Colin Powell, who is due in both countries next week to try firsthand diplomacy, telephoned President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan to urge stronger measures by Pakistan against terrorism.

Similarly, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said President Bush agrees that Musharraf should do more.

At the same time, while Bush did not speak to reporters, he had Fleischer tell them, "The president believes that President Musharraf has made important progress in cracking down."

In New Delhi, India's army chief, Gen. Sunderajan Padmanabhan, issued a stern warning to Pakistan on Friday, saying India was "fully ready" for war.

The two countries have fought two wars over Kashmir, a divided former princely state that both South Asian countries claim. The attack last month on India's parliament, which India accused Pakistan of inspiring, heightened tensions.

The Bush administration has not presented a formula for settling the Kashmir dispute but has urged dialogue and action against terrorists.

The State Department spokesman, Richard Boucher, said Friday the United States could be effective even without a prescription for Kashmir, which has defied solution since the partition of British India in 1947.

"We believe that India and Pakistan must resolve their differences through political and diplomatic means; that war and military action are not the way to resolve this crisis," Boucher said.

At the same time, the spokesman credited Musharraf with taking "significant steps against terrorists" with arrests, the closing of offices and freezing of assets of terrorist groups and by speaking out against terror.

Musharraf is due to make a speech this weekend, which U.S. officials are awaiting eagerly.

"The president is looking forward to listening to the speech," Fleischer said.

"The president continues to call on all the parties to recognize the importance of working to fight terrorism. India and Pakistan have a mutual enemy in terrorists, not in each other," the White House spokesman said.